Frank Sinatra died on May 14, 1998
He was one of the first superstars whose career spanned five decades.
MONROE, La. (KNOE) - One of the most influential entertainers of the 20th century died on May 14, 1998. Frank Sinatra was often called “the Chairman of the Board” or “Ol’ Blue Eyes.” His career spanned five decades.
He was born Francis Albert Sinatra to Italian immigrant parents in Hoboken, New Jersey on December 12, 1915. Sinatra emerged in 1939 as a big band singer. His career took off during World War II after the release of his first album “The Voice of Frank Sinatra.”
In the 1950’s, Sinatra released several albums and expanded his career to include acting. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in From Here to Eternity in 1953.
He branched into television starring in the CBS variety show The Frank Sinatra Show in 1950. He also starred in a number of television specials in the 1950’s and 1960’s.
As his career expanded, his image of glamorous, rough-edged masculinity included his friends. They were known as “The Rat Pack.”The group included Sammy Davis, Jr., Dean Martin, Peter Lawford, and Joey Bishop. They shared the screen in three movies in the 1960’s, starting with Ocean’s Eleven.
Despite continued rumors of connections with organized crime, Sinatra received the Kennedy Center Honors in 1983, the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1985, and the Congressional Gold Medal in 1997. He earned 11 Grammy Awards, including the Trustees Award, the Legend Award, and the Lifetime Achievement Award.
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